Rural Southern Rhode Island MOO-Naure Ordinances

MOO-nure, it’s smelly, sometimes slimy, wet and dry, colorful and constant. No one likes to talk about manure, but for rural Rhode Island residents who own or tend livestock, it is a daily (sometimes twice daily, who am I kidding, multiple times a day) reality.

Cows From Behind

For those dealing with the other end of life, here in the bottom end of the state understanding town ordinances about “it,” can at the very least keep homeowners out of trouble and in their neighbor's good graces.

Believe it or not, each town has several ordinances involving the care, removal, management and storage of manure; or as I like to consider it, future compost.

According to the town of Richmond, in the manure ordinance 6.18.010, manure ordinances are for livestock . The town's definition of livestock includes such public offenders as cattle, cows, sheep, horses, ponies, mules, burros, donkeys, goats, llamas, alpacas, rabbits, chickens, roosters, turkeys, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, pea fowl, peacocks, ostriches, and emus, as an accessory use to a principal residential use.  

Meanwhile, wild animals are free to use the world as their toilet.

2 other ordinances that impact manure storage are listed below.

6.18.020 General standards.  The following standards apply to any parcel on which domestic livestock are kept. 

 

A.  Areas where domestic livestock are kept shall be managed in a manner that minimizes dust, odor, and vermin.

 

B.  Stormwater runoff from all areas where domestic livestock are kept and where manure is stored or composted shall be directed away from wetlands and wells on the parcel where the domestic livestock are kept and away from wetlands and wells on adjacent parcels. 

(Ord. dated 6-7-11)

 

6.18.030 Manure management.  Manure shall be stored or composted in the following manner:

 

A.  Manure shall be stored or composted at least fifty (50) feet from a lot line, one hundred (100) feet from a well, and two hundred (200) feet from a wetland or stormwater drainage feature.

 

B.  Manure storage or composting areas shall be visually screened from residential uses on adjacent lots.

 

C.  Manure shall be stored on an impermeable surface and shall be protected from precipitation by a cover to prevent surface runoff over and around manure piles to avoid contamination of surface and ground water.

 

Manure is not a pretty or sexy topic (I can't believe I just used the word "sexy" in this post) but for those who live in rural southern RI or those who want to, it is an everyday reality. Knowing and understanding town ordinances will hopefully keep homeowners out of trouble and in the good graces of their neighbors.

 

For more information contact the local town hall.

 

Richmond Town Hall website

Why Rural Rhode Island Living?

Since this is an early post I wanted to introduce people to myself and where I live. I am a lifelong resident of Richmond, RI. I grew up on the Wood River and currently live upriver from my parents.

At the age of 23, I was the program director for a therapeutic riding center in Ashaway, RI. As a business leader in the community I saw first hand the support, kindness and collaboration there was amongst the residents of southern RI. It made me appreciate living here and want to shine a light on this community to others.

On weekends I walk, hike, bike and ride the trails that crisscross the woods in this part of the state. I still love the feeling of finding a new trail or back road, and I am still discovering them. That is one of the best parts of being a real estate agent, I have a reason to travel down roads that most people drive past.

As a resident I fully understand why people live here and why they want to move here. For some it is the dream of a new home set back in the woods, others want a historic home with a barn to try their hand at farming, horse owners want land to graze their horses on with nearby trails that are great for riding, and some want to live where they grew up.

Whatever your motives rural southern RI can meet your needs and I can guide you through the home-buying process.

This blog is intended to show residents, non-residents and future residents all this area has to offer. It will cover local events, people, residential information, weather, programs and of course local housing trends and the properties and homes that are on the market or have been on the market.